You can make a gift as small as $10, and it will be matched by $10.  (Of course, we welcome larger gifts.)  This is a wonderful opportunity for you to join important projects in renewable energy, promotion of health through use of clean cookstoves, and other development activities, especially in Haiti. 

Click this link:  www.justgive.org/10years between October 10 and October 19, enter the federal EIN number: 71-1016293 or the name Public-Private Alliance Foundation, then click on the “Donate Now” button on the right.

 Please forward this to your friends, and help make a difference in Haiti and elsewhere.

Recognizing the health problems created by burning solid fuel for household cooking and heating, a group of concerned organizations launched the international Partnership for Clean Indoor Air (PCIA) at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development

The Public-Private Alliance Foundation recently joined the Partnership’s approximately 400  partners in their efforts to reduce the impact of exposure to indoor air pollution by helping households adopt clean, efficient indoor cooking and heating methods.  The Foundation began working with biofuels and bioenergy in 2008 in the Dominican Republic, and has since organized four conferences related to ethanol, biofuels and bioenergy. The Foundation is currently working with partners to bring ethanol-burning clean cookstoves to Haiti. 

According to the World Health Organization, over three billion people rely on solid fuel, such as coal and biomass, for cooking and heating; the resulting indoor air pollution leads to over 1.5 million deaths annually. Because they spend more time preparing meals and near cookstoves, women and children are disproportionately affected.

PCIA takes a comprehensive approach to reducing reliance on solid fuel for cooking and heating by focusing on four priority areas: meeting social/behavioral needs; developing local markets; improving technology design and performance; and monitoring impacts of interventions. It assists with capacity building and provides technical assistance, project implementation, and knowledge management.

These efforts have led to 1.4 million households adopting clean cooking and heating practices, reducing exposure to indoor air pollution for more than 7.6 million people.

PCIA expects to impact 6 million more households by the end of 2010.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is the lead for the US government, and Winrock International is also part of the secretariat.  For more information, see: http://www.pciaonline.org/ and the Foundation’s involvement:  http://www.pciaonline.org/public-private-alliance-foundation

Panel members will include:  Patrick Delatour, Haiti Minister of Tourism (and Reconstruction);  Dr. Lesly Kernisant, President of SImACT, Inc.; Roland Zenny, President of the Jacmel Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. David Stillman, PPAF Executive Director.

The next morning those registered will depart for the overnight side trip to Jacmel.  (See blog article below:  Register Now for Jacmel Side Event.)

The Société Immobilière de Agriculture, Commerce et Tourisme, Inc., (SImACT) and the Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF), in collaboration with Haitian government and other local and international partners, will conduct a workshop for potential foreign and local investors and businesses to facilitate their efforts in the region.  The workshop will bring together the private sector, government, donors, non-profit organizations and others to work together toward the common goal of revitalizing the Southern area of the country.  The workshop will emphasize the United Nations Millennium Development Goals as a framework for sustainable development.

Workshop dates are  27–29 June 2010.  A maximum of 70 participants, both Haitian and from other countries, will be invited to attend.  If you or your organization would be interested in attending or in co-sponsoring, contact Dr. David Stillman at ppafoundation@gmail.com

Languages of the conference will include French, English and Spanish. High-level officials of the Government of Haiti will be specially invited. 

Workshop topics being developed  include: 

• Overview of the Haiti Action Plan for National Recovery and Development
• Regional Priorities for Recovery and Development in Southern Haiti
• Role of the Private Investor and of Public-Private Partnerships
• Perspectives of NGOs and Local Government; Involvement of Local People in Decisions
• Credit and Funds Transfer, Legal Issues, Other
• Subgroups will depend on interest and may include:
  • Infrastructure – Seaport, airport, roads
  • Renewable energy –  Ethanol, biodiesel, solar power
  • Housing – Low-cost, moderate cost and safe repair
  • Agriculture and agribusiness – Fish farming, sugar and other
  • Social venture capital and microfinance
  • Ethanol cookstoves
  • Health – Clinics, training and post-traumatic stress
  • Historic District – UNESCO World Historic Site; repairs to standards
  • Tourism – Marketing of Jacmel, eco-tourism, voluntourism
  • Arts and artisans

FUNGLODE, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development of the Dominican Republic, featured PPAF’s work in Haiti, at the UN Department of Public Information / NGO Forum  “NGOs Responding to Crisis: Meeting New Challenges, the Case of Haiti” held on February 24, 2010.  Press release dated March 1, 2010.

The Dominican newspaper El Nuevo Diario  wrote in “Expertos nacionales e internacionales revisarán estrategia en acuicultura“ about the fish farming conference  held by the  Dominican Aquaculture Association ADOA on March 23-24, 2010.  Article dated February 23, 2010.

The April newsletter of the Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions of the University of South Florida included an article about David Stillman’s March 22 talk on Alternative Energy in Developing countries.  See page 4 of the newsletter:   http://patelcenter.rc.usf.edu/documents/newsletters/1004Apr.pdf

Members of the Advisory Group have a breadth of knowledge and experience, in government, business, academia, finance and non-profit management.  The broad work of PPAF aims toward achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, especially those aimed toward poverty reduction, environmental sustainability and building global partnerships.

Members of the Group may work together on areas of common interest, and also provide guidance individually. 

The first two topics the Group will address are:

(1)  Renewable Energy in the Dominican Response to the Haiti Earthquake Crisis;  

(2)  Renewable Energy in Haitian Post-Earthquake Reconstruction and Development

Members of the group are: 

Philippe Barjon, MS EE, Product Manager Energy Solutions at OpenLink Financial; Energy Director of BioTek Solutions, Inc.

Antonio Bento, PhD, Associate Professor, Applied Economics & Management, Cornell University

Marty Borruso, BS Forensic Chemistry; Chief Executive Officer, Fuel Bio Holdings, LLC

Gerónimo A. Chotin, BS Finance, Manager of Operations and Finance, Dominican Renewables, Inc.

Johanna Mendelson Forman, JD, PhD, Senior Associate, Center for Strategic & International Studies and Executive Director, Jatropha Foundation

Virgilio Malagon, PhD, Adviser to the President, National Energy Commission of the Dominican.Republic

Pablo Reyes, MA, International Policy; Director, Centro de Estudios Estratégicos Latinoamericanos

Robin van Puyenbroeck,  Master of Law/ Lic. Jur.; LLM International Law; Treasurer, UN Association of New York; Member, Carnegie New Leaders Program; international banker

Jean-Marie Wolff, MBA, MA Real Estate; President, SImACT Mining Holding, Inc.; CFO, SImACT, Inc. (Société Immobilière d’Agriculture, de Commerce, et de Tourisme)

Ex-Officio members of the Advisory Group are:

V. Judith Bowman, MBA, PPAF Senior Fellow.  Consultant in finance

Nazia Habib-Mintz, PPAF Fellow, Renewable Energy Program.  Doctoral candidate, Cambridge University. Consultant in renewable energy

Herb Oringel, MBA, PPAF Board Member.  Chair, Energy Advisory Panel, Town of Somers, NY

Amar Shibli, MBA (2011) - Dartmouth, PPAF Associate.

PPAF ha publicado material en su sitio web (Sección Eventos), relativa a las reuniones sectoriales de Bioenergía, celebrada en la Comisión Nacional de Energía de la República Dominicana 2 a 4 diciembre de 2009. Esto incluye el informe en español, aprobado por el CNE, así como enlaces a la invitación, fotos y vídeos.

The meetings brought out the views of representatives from the public sector, the financial community and companies with pilot field experience, and academics and the private sector — over 55 people in total.  

En las reuniones participaron los representantes del sector público, la comunidad financiera y las empresas con la experiencia sobre el terreno, y los académicos y el sector privado – más de 55 personas en total.

In addition to the National Energy Commission (CNE) as host and leader, the Public-Private Alliance Foundation and ResearchPAYS, Inc. benefited from collaboration and sponsorship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the RJS Group, S.A., and the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP).  The December discussions expanded upon the recommendations reached at the introductory session held in Santo Domingo in early October, where Grupo Vicini, the Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization (IREO) and the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD) were sponsors as well.

Además de la Comisión Nacional de Energía (CNE), como anfitrión y líder de la Public-Private Alliance Foundation y ResearchPAYS, Inc. beneficiado de la colaboración y el patrocinio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, el Grupo de RJS, SA, y la United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP). Los debates de diciembre ampliaron las recomendaciones formuladas en la sesión preliminar celebrada en Santo Domingo a principios de octubre, donde el Grupo Vicini, la Organización Intergubernamental de Energías Renovables (IREO) y el Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana (CEI-RD) fueron los patrocinadores también.

El Secretario General Ban Ki-moon, Embajador Léo Mérorès, Representante Permanente de Haití ante las Naciones Unidas, y el Embajador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana ante las Naciones Unidas, habló en la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas en Viernes, 22 de enero 2010. El tema fue: “Fortalecimiento de la coordinación de la asistencia humanitaria de emergencia de las Naciones Unidas.” En relación con la situación de emergencia en Haití.

Le Secretaire-General Ban Ki-moon, Ambassadeur Léo Mérorès, Représentant permanent d’Haïti auprès de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, et l’Ambassadeur Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Représentant permanent de la République dominicaine auprès de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, a parlé lors de l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies le vendredi 22 Janvier, 2010. Le thème était: «Renforcement de la coordination de l’aide humanitaire d’urgence de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.” Par rapport à la situation d’urgence en Haïti.

Full webcasts of the session are available in two forms:  with all speeches translated into English, and with all speeches in their original languages.

Lleno transmisiones de las sesiones están disponibles en dos formas: con todos los discursos traducidos al Inglés, y con todos los discursos en sus idiomas originales

Webémissions de la session sont disponibles sous deux formes: avec tous les discours traduit en anglais, et avec tous les discours dans leur langue originale

http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/ga/64/2010/ga100122am.rm  [ENGLISH]

http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/ga/64/2010/ga100122am-orig.rm  [ORIGINAL]

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon – English; Amb. Merores – francais; Amb. Cuello – espanol.

Approximate times:

07:08’ to 21:45’ –         UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon:    

37:44’ to 43:33’ –         Ambassador Leo Merores

01:59 to 02:07’ –         Ambassador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo

As reported on the website of the Presidencia, on January 18, 2010, in Santo Domingo, with the agreement and assistance of the President of the Republic of Haiti, Mr. René Preval, and at the initiative of the President of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Leonel Fernández Reyna, a meeting was held with representatives from the member countries of the CARICOM; OAS, Canada, Spain, United States, Brazil, the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) in Haiti, the European Union and the World Bank, to examine the best manner to address this dramatic situation. 

The group has decided to hold a preparatory conference based on several existing sources, including  Millennium Development Goals,  the 2008-2010 National Strategy Document on growth and poverty reduction and the World Bank document best known as Haiti: Options and Opportunities for Growth.  The next step is convening of a working group in Canada on January 25. 

For more information, see: http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/article.aspx?id=11892

The CNE is formulating a national energy program involving perspectives from government, economic, financial and religious sectors.   Three main points are resources for the CNE, pilot projects and public education.   Malagon and Stillman agreed that PPAF should continue and strengthen its involvement with CNE in these matters.